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Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday said during a meeting of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Israel “has to act and will act against Hamas fire in Gaza (Strip). We will expand operations, but we won’t aim at a prolonged, permanent stay”.

According to Ynetnews, Olmert added, “At the same time, we have to prevent humanitarian danger in Gaza Strip.”

Ran Cohen, a committee member, said Olmert told the lawmakers that plans were still up in the air, but that any expansion of the operation would be done in a "cautious and measured manner."

Israel has been operating in the Gaza Strip since late June, when Palestinian fighters carried out a cross-border raid on a military outpost in Israel, killing two soldiers and capturing a third.